Marple has never been some sort of ratings powerhouse though, at least not recently. The fact that so many editions are being shown this Christmas shows that ITV don't see them as being a major hit either.
I expected Rock and Chips to beat Marple by at least a million, if not 2m.
Had they gone head to head at 9pm, I'd be inclined to agree.
Clearly the mini cliff-hanger ending does draw the viewers in. What will be interesting is if we see a drop off on the C4 showing tomorrow since more have already watched it.
If I was being charitable to the BSI, there was some degree of logic in a "midway" slot because the storyline went from just before Christmas up to New Year's Eve. I can see why they wouldn't air a New Year's Eve climaxing storyline on Christmas Eve/Day/Boxing Day - likewise, by NYD, a storyline covering Christmas Day would be past history.
However, I think 9pm on NYD would have been the best slot for it, with an EE lead-in and a bit more visibility on the promotion side.
On the Subject of New Years Day
There's only really EastEnders.
Last year they had TOTP, EastEnders,Dr who,EastEnders,Creek did they not?
On the Subject of New Years Day
There's only really EastEnders.
Last year they had TOTP, EastEnders,Dr who,EastEnders,Creek did they not?
Last year had Who, EE and Gavin and Stacey - but to be fair, that was pretty exceptional for a NYD line up.
This year they've got Indiana Jones, which is perhaps their biggest movie of the fortnight, in the early evening slot - followed by the new Saturday night show, The Magicians, before EE at 8.30. I think thats pretty strong, but I'll admit 9pm is poorer with Come Fly With Me (though god knows how that'll perform) and Live at the Apollo. Actually, NYD at 9 could have been a good one for Rock and Chips.
No doubt the figure for R+C was poor last night. We knew the scheduling was highly suspect, but I was still expecting around 6m. The Easter special could make or break the future of the show now. The Polar Bears documentary outperformed expectations though, so credit for that.
Last year had Who, EE and Gavin and Stacey - but to be fair, that was pretty exceptional for a NYD line up.
This year they've got Indiana Jones, which is perhaps their biggest movie of the fortnight, in the early evening slot - followed by the new Saturday night show, The Magicians, before EE at 8.30. I think thats pretty strong, but I'll admit 9pm is poorer with Come Fly With Me (though god knows how that'll perform) and Live at the Apollo. Actually, NYD at 9 could have been a good one for Rock and Chips.
No doubt the figure for R+C was poor last night. We knew the scheduling was highly suspect, but I was still expecting around 6m. The Easter special could make or break the future of the show now. The Polar Bears documentary outperformed expectations though, so credit for that.
The Beeb's "biggie" for NYD is the Eric and Ernie drama on BBC2. The BSI have certainly complementary scheduled on BBC1/2 at 9pm.
After the sheer awfulness of CFWM ep 1, I wouldn't be too astonished if E&E won its slot.
The Beeb's "biggie" for NYD is the Eric and Ernie drama on BBC2. The BSI have certainly complementary scheduled on BBC1/2 at 9pm.
After the sheer awfulness of CFWM ep 1, I wouldn't be too astonished if E&E won its slot.
I doubt CFWM will be that low but I can't see it doing too well. I think there's an outside chance of Take Me Out beating it but that's unlikely this week I reckon. In a few weeks time it could be a very different story, and I definitely expect Kidnap and Ransom to be outrating it in a couple of weeks.
Thanks - what on earth was Christmas Night with the Stars?
This is a bit late, but Christmas Night With The Stars in 2003 was basically Parkinson, a usual edition of his show but I think they had a few stand-ups on as well. And yes, it was opposite Coronation Street.
I really dont think Rock and Chips' rating deserves an "ouch", from the way some are carrying on you would have thought it got 3m.
Its lower than I expected and 2m down from its debut but there were plenty of reasons why. Scheduled in no mans land between Christmas and New Year, starting an hour into a drama on ITV, bearly no promotion at all.
I really dont think Rock and Chips' rating deserves an "ouch", from the way some are carrying on you would have thought it got 3m.
Its lower than I expected and 2m down from its debut but there were plenty of reasons why. Scheduled in no mans land between Christmas and New Year, starting an hour into a drama on ITV, bearly no promotion at all.
Quite similar to Whitechapel - the problem is of course, creatively, Whitechapel was being stretched, while surely Rock & Chips should be getting into its stride. Having said that, Whitechapel was in the familiar 9pm Monday slot, while Rock & Chips was in a Wednesday slot starting an hour into Marple.
For me Rock and Chips did not deserve a better slot primarily because it wasnt very good. The female lead is good, not sure about Nicholas Lyndhurst as a hard man and the young cast are woefully underused. Not enough funny lines to make it memorable. The first one had great novelty value but this was like a quiet episode of a soap and I reckon much more is needed to make it stand out-I doubt the BBC will be keen on too many audiences of 5 million odd for what they probably see as a regular holiday treat.
As for Daybreak, I doubt ITV particularly care how it's doing this week, it's the Christmas holidays and not many people are up at that time in the morning. It should be back up to 0.8m or so next week which would be okay.
but if that is the case, why is Breakfast doing so well?
Not sure I agree those disagreeing with the 'ouch'... need I remind people of the opposition for the first Rock and Chips episode?
Im not sure I agree with you disagreeing with me about me disagreeing with an "ouch".
There seemed to be a lot less people watching TV last night than the night Rock and Chips debuted. Like I said in my previous post, ratings between Boxing Day and New Years Day are often not great as a lot of things get lost in the pack and dont get promoted.
I would go as far as saying that last night's R+C episode would have done better against Wild At Heart in a few weeks time in a similar schedule to when the first episode aired.
To be honest I was surprised that the first Rock And Chips did as well as it did given that
a) it had tough ITV opposition, and
b) the BBC sneaked it into the schedule without ceremony.
I get the impression that the BBC are embarassed by this programme. Or unenthuiastic.
It took a few years for the project to come to fruition. Maybe the BBC were hoping to get some more Only Fools out of the deal and lost enthuiasm when Fools was not forthcoming.
Or maybe they were annoyed by the poor standard of Green Green Grass.
To be honest I was surprised that the first Rock And Chips did as well as it did given that
a) it had tough ITV opposition, and
b) the BBC sneaked it into the schedule without ceremony.
I get the impression that the BBC are embarassed by this programme. Or unenthuiastic.
It took a few years for the project to come to fruition. Maybe the BBC were hoping to get some more Only Fools out of the deal and lost enthuiasm when Fools was not forthcoming.
Or maybe they were annoyed by the poor standard of Green Green Grass.
I dont know about embarrassed, but imo it certainly wasnt anything that was going to make the nation sit down in eager anticipation. Presumably thats why it was scheduled last night.
Not sure I agree those disagreeing with the 'ouch'... need I remind people of the opposition for the first Rock and Chips episode?
And had last night's R&C aired on a Sunday night in January, the most-watched TV night of the week in the depths of winter, your comparison might have had some relevance. I'm sure it would have done better than 5.2m had it been held back a month and the schedule was the same as above.
If we compare like with like, here are the equivalent (official) ratings for the same Christmas Wednesday in 2009:
BBC1:
20.00 Waterloo Road 5.30m
21.00 The Turn of the Screw 5.19m (90 min drama)
ITV1:
19.30 Emmerdale 6.61m
20.00 Countrywise 3.39m
20.30/21.00 ????? - no shows in the Top 30 for Wednesday after Countrywise so whatever they aired flopped with less than 3.19m
So despite ITV1 offering only a pair of flops on the equivalent night last year, BBC1 could only get official ratings of 5.3m and 5.2m for its 8pm and 9pm offerings - so it's likely both Polar Bear and R&C will better that when the official numbers come out. In that context, it wasn't that disastrous a night for BBC1 - just poor scheduling of one of their key festive offerings.
The Marple last year (NYD at 9pm) got 5.55m btw...
Comments
Had they gone head to head at 9pm, I'd be inclined to agree.
Clearly the mini cliff-hanger ending does draw the viewers in. What will be interesting is if we see a drop off on the C4 showing tomorrow since more have already watched it.
There's only really EastEnders.
Last year they had TOTP, EastEnders,Dr who,EastEnders,Creek did they not?
It's because New Year's Day falls on a Saturday. It was a similar story in 2005.
Last year had Who, EE and Gavin and Stacey - but to be fair, that was pretty exceptional for a NYD line up.
This year they've got Indiana Jones, which is perhaps their biggest movie of the fortnight, in the early evening slot - followed by the new Saturday night show, The Magicians, before EE at 8.30. I think thats pretty strong, but I'll admit 9pm is poorer with Come Fly With Me (though god knows how that'll perform) and Live at the Apollo. Actually, NYD at 9 could have been a good one for Rock and Chips.
No doubt the figure for R+C was poor last night. We knew the scheduling was highly suspect, but I was still expecting around 6m. The Easter special could make or break the future of the show now. The Polar Bears documentary outperformed expectations though, so credit for that.
The Beeb's "biggie" for NYD is the Eric and Ernie drama on BBC2. The BSI have certainly complementary scheduled on BBC1/2 at 9pm.
After the sheer awfulness of CFWM ep 1, I wouldn't be too astonished if E&E won its slot.
I doubt CFWM will be that low but I can't see it doing too well. I think there's an outside chance of Take Me Out beating it but that's unlikely this week I reckon. In a few weeks time it could be a very different story, and I definitely expect Kidnap and Ransom to be outrating it in a couple of weeks.
This is a bit late, but Christmas Night With The Stars in 2003 was basically Parkinson, a usual edition of his show but I think they had a few stand-ups on as well. And yes, it was opposite Coronation Street.
And now you can sleep easy.
Its lower than I expected and 2m down from its debut but there were plenty of reasons why. Scheduled in no mans land between Christmas and New Year, starting an hour into a drama on ITV, bearly no promotion at all.
Quite similar to Whitechapel - the problem is of course, creatively, Whitechapel was being stretched, while surely Rock & Chips should be getting into its stride. Having said that, Whitechapel was in the familiar 9pm Monday slot, while Rock & Chips was in a Wednesday slot starting an hour into Marple.
It's swings and roundabouts.
What's your point? The opposition was tougher in January than it was last night.
Im not sure I agree with you disagreeing with me about me disagreeing with an "ouch".
There seemed to be a lot less people watching TV last night than the night Rock and Chips debuted. Like I said in my previous post, ratings between Boxing Day and New Years Day are often not great as a lot of things get lost in the pack and dont get promoted.
I would go as far as saying that last night's R+C episode would have done better against Wild At Heart in a few weeks time in a similar schedule to when the first episode aired.
My point is that last January it beat a tough ITV line-up quite convincingly.
Yesterday, it couldn't beat a new episode of Marple.
On the other hand, I think Marple and Rock & Chips would have similar audiences, unlike Rock & Chips and Dancing on Ice
a) it had tough ITV opposition, and
b) the BBC sneaked it into the schedule without ceremony.
I get the impression that the BBC are embarassed by this programme. Or unenthuiastic.
It took a few years for the project to come to fruition. Maybe the BBC were hoping to get some more Only Fools out of the deal and lost enthuiasm when Fools was not forthcoming.
Or maybe they were annoyed by the poor standard of Green Green Grass.
I dont know about embarrassed, but imo it certainly wasnt anything that was going to make the nation sit down in eager anticipation. Presumably thats why it was scheduled last night.
And had last night's R&C aired on a Sunday night in January, the most-watched TV night of the week in the depths of winter, your comparison might have had some relevance. I'm sure it would have done better than 5.2m had it been held back a month and the schedule was the same as above.
If we compare like with like, here are the equivalent (official) ratings for the same Christmas Wednesday in 2009:
BBC1:
20.00 Waterloo Road 5.30m
21.00 The Turn of the Screw 5.19m (90 min drama)
ITV1:
19.30 Emmerdale 6.61m
20.00 Countrywise 3.39m
20.30/21.00 ????? - no shows in the Top 30 for Wednesday after Countrywise so whatever they aired flopped with less than 3.19m
So despite ITV1 offering only a pair of flops on the equivalent night last year, BBC1 could only get official ratings of 5.3m and 5.2m for its 8pm and 9pm offerings - so it's likely both Polar Bear and R&C will better that when the official numbers come out. In that context, it wasn't that disastrous a night for BBC1 - just poor scheduling of one of their key festive offerings.
The Marple last year (NYD at 9pm) got 5.55m btw...
I had a look a couple of days ago and all i could find was "early 2011". I think it'll probably be about the same time they launch Sky Atlantic.